Georgetown University’s Center for Social Impact Communication: Describe your career path and your current position as a CSIC Student Research Assistant.
Katie Bowen: I’ve always been passionate about politics and corporate business. So, when deciding on a graduate degree, marketing allowed me to blend the two fields and work on projects that applied to all my career interests. It wasn’t until I took Cause Consulting that I discovered my niche with corporate social responsibility efforts. Since then, I’ve carved more of a diplomatic career route and aim to work with the United Nations in the future.
Cause Consulting influenced my volunteerism as a CSIC Student Research Assistant. I loved learning about the effectiveness of storytelling and the components necessary to make a true story, which are unchanging. So, when the opportunity to assist with the Center’s research on the future of storytelling arose, I was thrilled to be a part of it!
The Center: What is your best piece of career advice?
KB: Keep in mind that your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card and how you leave others feeling after an experience becomes your trademark. People won’t remember what you did, they will remember how you made them feel; so be self-aware and give the world the best version of yourself. Ultimately, that’s the legacy you will leave and I plan on leaving an iridescent one.
The Center: What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
KB: My experience as a Page for the U.S. House of Representatives during the summer of 2006 revolutionized my perception of what I thought I knew. It was humbling to hear fellow pages recite Congressional delegations and their sponsored and co-sponsored legislation. I saw myself as a small fish in a big pond rather than the familiar big fish in a small pond. It’s once-in-a-lifetime to be a historical part of the political process in high school. The experience sparked my current career path and gave insight into the competitive landscape that I was destined for post-graduation. The realizations about myself, my potential and the legislative branch were invaluable.
The Center: What was the most useful skill you learned in Cause Consulting?
KB: The most useful skill I acquired in Cause Consulting was taking the StrengthsFinder test and discovering and exploring my top 5 strengths. That’s how I could navigate within CSR, cause marketing and public policy where I best fit – in a diplomatic role. When Dean Keyes came in and discussed the class’ results and how insightful within an organization and team setting having that awareness is, my perspective evolved. I realized how essential it is for people (and their strengths) to fit together like a puzzle if a team is to achieve its greatest potential and effectiveness. My top 5 strengths are: WOO (Winning-Others-Over), Communication, Activator, Positivity, and Futuristic.
The Center: What is your go-to source to learn about cause communication trends?
KB: Since diplomacy is an interest, I’ve found the BBC to be my go-to-source for cause communication trends. I believe their global presence and reporting is insightful and educational. I’ll typically research later what it was that resonated with me.
The Center: What advice do you have for students in Georgetown’s Division of Professional Communications who are job hunting?
KB: Learn about yourself and spice up your experience with volunteerism since you have the time. Look at what you most recently did and build upon it with little tidbits that can increase the diversity of your resume portfolio. For example, the opportunity of CSIC Student Research Assistant developed from Cause Consulting and at a perfect time while I was job hunting. Additionally, I volunteered for two weeks with elephants in Thailand and teaching kids English in Cambodia. The experience was humbling and fostered my career ambition to work with international initiatives. Cause Consulting and my team’s client, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, sparked the inspiration to contribute my greatest asset for good – time.